The PGA Tour has partnered with a new team-based live virtual golf league called TGL (presented by SoFi), co-created by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley. Let’s review what we know about this new indoor golf league and answer your most frequent questions before the official launch in January 2025 (delayed).
TGL initially planned the first venue for January 2024, but the dome of the Florida-based arena collapsed after a power failure. Following that incident, partners decided to report the launch of TGL in early 2025.
What is TGL?
TGL aims to offer a shorter, entertaining, high-tech prime-time golf experience consisting of live team-based 3v3 15-hole match-play tournaments lasting 2 hours.
Six teams from 6 different cities will each consist of 3 Tour players. As of now, here are the cities represented and the names of the teams:
- Los Angeles Golf Club (LAGC),
- TGL New York,
- Boston Common Golf,
- Atlantic Drive GC.
- Jupiter Links Golf Club,
- TGL San Francisco.
The regular season will consist of 15 matches, playoffs, and a Championship match (reasonably similar to the functioning of the FedEx Cup).
Each venue will feature a purpose-built arena with custom-built indoor golf simulator bays and virtual greens larger than a basketball court (more information on the technology is available in the article).
Which golf pros will be part of it?
As of February 2024, the following Tour players will be part of the TGL virtual golf league:
- Tiger Woods,
- Rory McIlroy,
- Justin Thomas,
- Rickie Fowler,
- Collin Morikawa,
- Matt Fitzpatrick,
- Justin Rose,
- Xander Schauffele,
- Max Homa,
- Billy Horschel (my favorite player by the way),
- Sahith Theegala,
- Cameron Young ,
- Tommy Fleetwood,
- Keegan Bradley,
- Shane Lowry,
- Adam Scott,
- Tom Kim,
- Patrick Cantlay,
- Wyndham Clark
- Min Woo Lee,
- Kevin Kisner,
- Lucas Glover.
Jon Rahm was initially one of the founding players of TGL but withdrew in November 2023 and coincidentally joined LIV Golf a month later.
No golf pros who pledged allegiance to LIV are currently part of the TGL.
What about the team lineup?
As of February 2024, here are the teams that have announced the names of their players:
- Boston Common Golf (Keegan Bradley, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott)
- Atlantic Drive GC (Patrick Cantlay, Lucas Glover, Justin Thomas)
- LAGC (Tommy Fleetwood, Collin Morikawa, Sahith Theegala)
We will soon know the names of the players of the other TGL teams.
Where will the first venue be?
The first TGL live event is set to take place at the TGL Arena of Palm Beach State College (Palm Beach, FL) according to the official TGL website.
How can I watch TGL events on TV and online?
If you can’t make it in person, TGL golf events will be broadcasted on Disney’s ESPN TV channels and ESPN+
Who is backing TGL and the teams?
Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley co-founded the TGL golf league in 2022 under the TMRW Sports venture. NBA star Steph Curry is also part of the TMRW investors. Different companies and investors individually own The teams’ licenses (more details below).
New York, NY
The New York Mets owner Steve Cohen has purchased the rights to the TGL New York team through his asset management from Point72.
Related article : the 5 best indoor golf venues in New York City
Atlanta, GA
AMB Sports and Entertainment is the company backing Atlanta Drive GC. AMBSE owns the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United (soccer), and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Los Angeles, CA
LAGC is backed by Alexis Ohanian (Seven Seven Six), his wife Serena Williams, and her sister Venus Williams. Investors include several professional Greek basketball stars: Alex Antetokounmpo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kostas Antetokounmpo, and Thanasis Antetokounmpo.
Boston, MA
Boston Common Club is funded by Fenway Sports Group, famously known as the owner of the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool FC, and the Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL).
Related article : the 5 best indoor golf venues in Boston
San Francisco, CA
TGL San Francisco is owned and backed by Avenue Sports Fund and NBA star Stephen Curry.
Jupiter, FL
Florida has its very own team, and they are called Jupiter Links GC. Jupiter Links GC is backed by Tiger Wood (TGR Ventures) and David Blitzer (owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils).
It's very well known in the golfing community that many top-tier Tour players live in Jupiter, Florida. The weather and the golf courses make Jupitel an ideal base for any professional who wants to train in the best conditions possible all year round.
What will the game format be?
TGL events will feature a game format called Modern Match Play. 15 holes will be played in two sessions. The first 9 holes will be Triples (alternate shot with all the 3 players of a team). The folllowing 6 holes will be singles. Each team member will play 2 holes.
The team with the most points at the end wins the match.
As for the TGL league point system, the winning team earns 2 points, a tie equals 1 points and a loss gives 0 points.
Postseason, the top 4 teams will fight for the championship during playoffs.
All the details are in this TGL article.
Are there any specific rules?
Yes. There are 2 important rules to know that are unique to TGL matches:
- Players have 40 seconds to hit a shot. A one-stroke penalty is given above that duration.
- Each team will have Two time-outs per session (4 per match in total).
As for administering those rules and the other rules of golf, an experienced referee will be on the course.
What about the technology used in the arenas?
Full Swing (not the Netflix documentary, but the indoor golf simulator brand partner of the PGA Tour) has been selected as the official partner of the TGL. Arenas will feature :
- Custom-made Full Swing golf simulators and launch monitors
- Large HD screens measuring 64 x 46 ft (about 20 times the size of a standard indoor golf screen)
- Three 15x27ft virtual greens within a 3,800 square foot putting zone (that replicates the slope of each hole played with 189 actuators)
- Virtual caddy technology providing a live yardage book on a touchscreen monitor.
- A virtual driving range powered my Full Swing Pro 2.0.
Players will be mic’d-up just like in YouTube golf (a feature that viewers really appreciate, not being the case in Tour events).
If you're interested in the TGL, then Screen golfers is probably made for you!
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We regularly add more venues, locations and features, so stay tuned.